No record for O'Brien as Lions blanked

LOWER OXFORD --- If practice does, in fact, make perfect, Wednesdayafternoon’s women’s soccer contest between Lincoln University andGoldey-Breacom just may prove that a lack of practice can really wreakhavoc on a team’s offensive rhythm.

After three games in five days last week left the Lions banged up,Lincoln opted not to practice since its last game, instead hittingthe trainer’s room in an attempt to get healed up. But the lack oftime on the field was visible, as Lincoln wasn’t able to get itspassing game down, and the Lions dropped a 3-0 match against visitingGoldey-Beacom.

The shutout was an anomaly for the Lions, who came into the gameranked as the No. 12 scoring offense in the nation in Division II,averaging three goals a game, just a half a goal per game from the topfive.

“Our offense has struggled a bit the last couple games,” said Lincolncoach Fabio Boateng. “I think teams have gotten a chance to scout us,and have learned how strong we are up the middle. Teams are startingto clog up the middle on us, and we haven’t been able to push thingsout wide.”

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The efforts to clog up the middle are likely due to the seasonsophomore midfielder Tara O’Brien has been having. O’Brien leads Division II inboth scoring, with four points per game, and in goals scored, whereO’Brien is averaging 1.75 per contest. With another five gamesstill to play, the Lions’ British import had already equaled theLincoln record of 14 goals per game, set by Coatesville grad StephAnderson.

But that record will have to wait another game to be broken. O’Briendid have a golden opportunity early in the second half, but theLightning keeper was able to get a knee on it and knock it away.

“The bounce just killed me,” said O’Brien. “I still think I probablyshould have finished on it, but I also think it’s the first one I’vemissed all year.”

O’Brien is one of the players that has been hurting, and left the gamemidway through the second half with back issues.

“My back was really done before the game even started,” said O’Brien.“I’m just going to have to work with our trainers and get myself backready to play Sunday.”

Despite it all, Lincoln didn’t have a terrible game. Lincoln heldcontrol on its offensive end at least as much as the Lightning, andhad several chances on free kicks, corner kicks and breakaways. Butthe Lions just couldn’t pull the trigger and fire the good shot.

“I though we played with heart and intensity, and we never stoppedplaying hard,” said sophomore defender Ayana Stewart. “We had plentyof chances, we just couldn’t convert.”

Lincoln will now have a few days off to rejuvenate and get back ontrack. Following a road game Sunday, the Lions will get a full 10 days off to recuperate before hostingWashington Adventists on October17.

“We are going to have to make our adjustments and working hard,” saidBoateng. “We’ll need to adjust to what defenses are giving us, andtry to work wide more. Most importantly, with all these injuries,we’re going to have to put faith in our trainers to get us ready to goback out on the road.”